7 Reasons to Watch the Grammys That Aren’t Beyoncé-Related

The Grammys often seem to pop up out of nowhere. Yes, we’re in the thick of awards season, but it’s movie awards season, and every Sunday night in winter brings some sort of broadcast—Golden Globes or SAGs or Oscars, with the Super Bowl in there in the middle seemingly just to break up all those gowns. But in case you’ve forgotten what exactly will be going on this Sunday, February 12, beyond a hotly anticipated performance from a very pregnant Beyoncé, well, here are a few things to look forward to:

1. It’s the most bizarre red carpet of the year.

The Grammys are a more formal affair than, say, the MTV Video Music Awards, but they still celebrate the music industry. Musical artists love to (and are encouraged to) push boundaries, so you can expect anything from Rihanna in a fluffy Giambattista Valli cupcake of a gown (2015), Pharrell in jeans and sneakers (2016), or Lady Gaga incubating inside an egg held aloft by male model types (2011). Fun!

2. Katy Perry is up to something.

In the last week, she’s posted cryptic Instagrams, bleached her hair, and stationed mysterious disco balls in cities around the world. Last night, she finally debuted a new single: “Chained to the Rhythm.” It features co-songwriting and production work from pop maestros Sia and Max Martin, so her performance this Sunday might just create the next earworm that lasts into the summer.

3. David Bowie will probably win a posthumous Grammy.Consider it one final act of music magic! The artist formerly known as Ziggy Stardust passed away January 10 last year, but he also released a brand new album, Blackstar, on January 8, 2016. His album is up for four awards this weekend.

4. There will be tributes to Prince and George Michael.

Lest you’ve forgotten, 2016 was an unrelenting year of celebrity deaths, with the music world being hit particularly hard. Icons Prince and George Michael won’t just be getting the perfunctory “in memoriam” montage, though; the Grammys have announced that both will be honored with live memorials. But they haven’t said who will be doing what, so expect some emotional surprises. Bruno Mars grooving to “Faith” or “Freedom! ’90”? A Tribe Called Quest reinterpreting “Little Red Corvette”? Who knows.

5. John Legend and Cynthia Erivo will perform the “in memoriam” segment.

About that perfunctory montage: Grammy winner Legend and Tony winner Erivo will be singing together, so it might not be so perfunctory. This performance comes right off the news that Erivo, who just closed her star-marking role as Celie in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, will be playing Harriet Tubman in a biopic.

6. You need to watch the incredibly odd duets.

Remember when Eminem stiffly hugged Elton John at the 2001 Grammys? Or when Gwyneth Paltrow crooned on top of CeeLo Green’s piano while he was dressed as a peacock in 2011? The producers like to get weird with their mash-ups, and so far this year we know that Lady Gaga and Metallica will hit the stage together, as will The Weeknd and Daft Punk.

7. Adele and Beyoncé will battle it out for diva supremacy.

Okay, this one is Queen B related. The pop stars share impressive pipes and music-video savvy, in addition to nominations in several of the biggest categories of the night. Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance: Maybe they can split them 50/50? We are here for the inevitable photo of them backstage, holding two trophies each.